CIPA 2003 XIX th International Symposium, 30 September - 04 October, 2003, Antalya, Turkey
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2. KHARAB SAYYAR
The site Kharab Sayyar is situated in the District of Raqqa,
north-east Syria. Being surrounded by a rectangular system
of ditches and walls (Figure 1), its ruins still showing several
details of gates and bastions, the site consists of a 650 x 650
m Islamic city of the Abbasidic period (2nd half 9th century
to 11th century). The site is almost completely deserted. It is
its southern margins merely where some few buildings of the
contemporary village are spotted. In the southeastern comer
an antique mound (ca. 4 ha) is enclosed in the city
fortification. Heaps of debris cover most of the inside area.
Kharab Sayyar was first desribed by Baron von Oppenheim
in 1913. At that time the state of the ruins seem to have been
better, since v. Oppenheim was able to identify several
buldings (mosque, palace, fortification on top of the antique
mound etc.), which he marked in a schematic map of the site.
Since 1997 excavations are carried through in the course of a
cooperation of the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/Main,
Deutsche Orient Gesellschaft and the Syrian Antiquity
Department. Its reason is to learn about the near surroundings
(diameter 20 km) of the large settlement mound Tell Chuera
from prehistoric periods through recent times. The research
at Kharab Sayyar aims to investigate the antique mound, for
comparison with Tell Chuera, and an important site of the
Islamic period.
3. THE MAGNETOMETER SURVEY AT KHARAB
SAYYAR
After two excavation campaigns it was planned to do
geophysical survey to explore the complete site. The aim of
the initial fieldwork in 2000 was to test if a magnetometer
survey can be used successful at Kharab Sayyar. An area of
ca. 5 ha in the northeastern comer of the city was choosen. It
covers the area, where v. Oppenheim located a mosque.
Furthermore the area of investigation should cross the city's
fortification including an assumed gate. The area extended to
the outside of the city to verify wether there are further
structures or not.
Since the first fieldwork in 2000 was successful it was
decided to survey the site completely. In 2002 the
magnetometer survey was continued. By September 2002 a
total of 15 ha was covered (Figure 1).
The magnetometer survey used a multiprobe fluxgate-
gradiometer with four probes (vertical distance: 0.65 m)
fixed to a lightweight plastic array. Measurements were taken
in 0.25 m distance inline and 0.5 m crossline.
4. RESULTS
The plot of the magnetometer data shows several structures
which can be easily recognized and identified (Figure 2). The
most prominent structure is the street system which shows
both rectangular irregular elements. Situated in the
northeastern comer of the city a mosque (Figure 3) is visible.
It can be identified by its rectangular groundplan of ca. 43 x
48 m. Inside, a pile of coloums running parralel to the
northern, eastern, and western walls form a square. The qibla
is situated at the southern wall.
To the east a market street (suq) runs from an assumed gate
in the northern wall to the center of the city. It consist of
dozens of small shops piled along both sides of the street for
more than 300 m regarding the recent state of the survey.
In close distance to the market street several Large building
complexes are visible. The magnetometer data here show a
high contrast, wich might indicate the influence of thermal
processes by the formation of the feature. These spots of high
contrast correspond with obvious heaps of ash. The
excavation of one of theese spots prooved, that it was a bath.
At least a part of the ash is the result of heating water for the
bath. But it is questionable if this finding can be extrapolated
to all other similar structures.
■ Walls
50m 03 Other features
Figure 3. Kharrab Sayyar. Detail with mosque and market
(suq). A Magnetogram. B Interpretive Drawing.
A section of the eastern city wall is visible. It shows
alternating rectangular and round bastions in equal distances.
To the outside a ditch and another wall follow. Situated in
the middle of the eastern citywall a gate with two bastions
allows to enter the city. Sveral linear structures indicate a
